Toy water balloon

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a water balloon with a quick, easy, and low-cost means for sealing the balloon orifice. For example, the water balloon may comprise a liquid-activated closure mechanism along the inside of the balloon neck. A user then activates the closure mechanism while filling the balloon with water and may then seal the balloon orifice by pinching the balloon neck.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 60/542,457 entitled “Toy Water Balloon” and filed on Feb. 6,2004 which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to entertainment devices, and more particularly,to entertainment devices such as toy water balloons.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of toy water balloons has long been known to the prior art.Typically, water balloons are used to launch a small amount of watertowards a remote target. Most often, children are the primary users ofwater balloons; however, water balloons are also frequently used by bothyoung adults and adults in a variety of games and activities.

In general, a water balloon consists of a volume, a neck, and anorifice. Typically, a water balloon is filled at a faucet or by anotherfilling device by stretching the balloon orifice over the faucet ordevice's nozzle. After the balloon is filled to a satisfactory size, thewater balloon is detached from the filling nozzle and the orifice issealed—typically via tying the balloon neck in a knot. This tying andtying process, however, has several considerable shortcomings.

First, tying a “knot” closure can be a tedious and manually difficulttask to perform and characteristically detracts from the overallenjoyment of the user. In fact, tying a plurality of water balloons caneven become painful because of its repeated, pinching movement. Second,the tying process can be so troublesome for some customers that itcurtails their use of water balloons. In fact, some users are unable touse water balloons as they are unable to tie them. For example, manychildren do not possess the manual dexterity or hand size required totie a water balloon properly—an issue that is especially problematicsince children are the most common users of water balloons. This issueis further compounded during times when water balloons are wet (as theyoften are during use), making them even more difficult to tie. At suchtimes, even an adult can experience great difficulty in tying a waterballoon. Third, as a result of the great difficulty in tying waterballoons, children (and adults alike) waste most of their time at thewater faucet trying to seal balloons instead of enjoying the waterballoons as they were intended.

Finally, the tying motion places a great deal of stress on the balloonneck and frequently creates tears and ruptures in the balloonlining—destroying the balloon's usefulness. Furthermore, the knot tierequires a significant amount of the balloon material, leaving lessspace available for water and thereby decreasing the overalleffectiveness of the device. In addition, this added material reducesthe overall efficiency of the device and, in so doing, increasesmanufacturing costs through supplementary material costs.

Accordingly, a water balloon that is easy, painless, and quick to sealfor both children and adults is desirable. Additionally, a water balloonthat is less likely to be damaged during sealing and is more efficientand cost-effective is also desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a water balloon with an easy, painless,and quick means for sealing the balloon orifice. Furthermore, thepresent invention provides a more efficient and cost-effective designfor water balloons. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, a water balloon is configured such that aliquid-activated closure mechanism located on the inner surface of theballoon neck may be activated while filling the balloon with water.Subsequently, the balloon orifice can be sealed via the activatedclosure mechanism. For example, the water balloon may comprise aliquid-activated adhesive along the inside of the balloon neck. Thus, auser may activate the adhesive while filling the balloon with water andmay then seal the balloon orifice by pinching the balloon neck, therebycollapsing the neck onto the activated adhesive and creating awater-tight seal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional aspects of the present invention will become evident uponreviewing the non-limiting embodiments described in the specificationtaken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein likenumerals designate like elements, and:

FIG. 1 a is an exterior side view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 1 b is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exterior side view of an exemplary embodiment illustratinghow a user may seal the device; and,

FIG. 3 is an exterior side view of a preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions are of preferred exemplary embodiments only,and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configurationof the invention in any way. Rather the following description provides aconvenient illustration for implementing a preferred embodiment of theinvention. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangementof elements described in the preferred embodiments without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth herein.

Generally, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, a water balloon is provided comprising a liquid-activatedclosure mechanism for sealing the balloon orifice. The water balloon issuitably configured to make the sealing of the water balloon easier andquicker by means of the liquid-activated closure mechanism. For example,a water balloon may comprise a liquid-activated adhesive along theinside of the neck of the balloon. A user activates the adhesive whilefilling the balloon with water and then pinches the neck and therebyseals the orifice by means of the activated adhesive. Thus, it should beappreciated that any number of motions that collapse the balloon neckcan be used while still falling within the scope of the presentinvention. For example, twisting, grinding, and flattening motions maysimilarly be used.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention,the liquid-activated closure mechanism may also be suitably configuredto comprise a latex surface that is exposable by water. For example,opposing areas of the inner surface of the balloon neck may have awater-soluble covering over the exposed latex. During filling of thewater balloon with water, this covering washes away, revealing theexposed latex of the neck. This latex may then be collapsed, in asimilar manner, to create a latex-latex bond and seal the orifice of thewater balloon.

Thus, with reference to FIG. 1 a, in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, a water balloon 10 is showncomprising a volume 20, a neck 30, and an orifice 40. In accordance withthe present exemplary embodiment, water balloon 10 is a standard latexwater balloon. However, in accordance with various alternateembodiments, balloon 10 may be substituted with alternative materialsand combinations of materials including plastics, rubbers, composites,biodegradable “latexes”, and the like. In accordance with one aspect ofthe present exemplary embodiment, neck 30 is shortened relative tostandard water balloons given that no tying is necessary and in order toreduce overall materials costs. However, in accordance with variousalternate embodiments, the position, size, shape, and number of volume20, neck 30, and orifice 40 may vary. Moreover, water balloon 10 may beany of those water balloon configurations known or not yet known to theprior art.

Now with reference to FIG. 1 b, and in accordance with the presentexemplary embodiment, a liquid-activated closure mechanism 50 is shownon the inner surface of neck 30. Closure mechanism 50 is preferablylocated one half inch inset from orifice 40 along neck 30. With thispositioning, liquid-activated closure mechanism 50 is unlikely to comeinto contact with a faucet or nozzle mouth during filling and is lesslikely to be unintentionally activated through random contact withmoisture. However, in accordance with various alternate embodiments ofthe invention, Closure mechanism 50 may be located anywhere along neck30.

With continuing reference to FIG. 1 a and FIG. 1 b, liquid-activatedclosure mechanism 50 preferably comprises a liquid-activated adhesive.In addition to being liquid-activated, adhesive closure mechanism 50 ispreferably suitably strong and fast-acting enough in order toeffectively and quickly seal orifice 40. Moreover, closure mechanism 50preferably creates an active and robust seal so that balloon volume 20may rupture under a high pressure with orifice 40 still remainingsealed. Furthermore, adhesive closure mechanism 50 is preferably a thickand “gummy” adhesive upon activation so as to further enhance the sealquality of orifice 40. Additionally, adhesive closure mechanism 50 ispreferably non-toxic and eye-sensitive so as to improve the safety ofwater balloon 10.

However, in accordance with various alternate embodiments of the presentinvention, liquid-activated closure mechanism 50 may comprise any otherliquid-activated closure mechanism known or not yet know to the priorart. For example, liquid-activated closure mechanism 50 may comprise aliquid-revealed adhesive. More specifically, closure mechanism 50 maycomprise an adhesive covered by a water soluble layer that washes awayduring contact with water, thereby exposing the underlying adhesive.Alternatively, in accordance with various alternate embodiments,liquid-activated closure mechanism 50 may comprise an area of latexcovered by a water-soluble layer. Thus, during contact with water thiswater-soluble layer washes away, thereby exposing the underlying latex.This exposed latex may then be used as a closure mechanism via alatex-latex bond. However, regardless of the configuration, closuremechanism 50 may be activated via contact with water and is ofsufficient strength to suitably seal orifice 40.

With continuing reference to FIG. 1 a and FIG. 1 b, in accordance withone aspect of the present exemplary embodiment, liquid-activated closuremechanism 50 preferably completely covers an inner circumference of neck30 and, thereby, may create a stronger adhesive-adhesive bond uponsealing. However, in accordance with various alternate embodiments,closure mechanism 50 may comprise various other configurations andpatterns including one-sided and two-sided arrangements, horizontallines, “treads”, and other configurations known or not yet known to theprior art. In addition, liquid-activated adhesive closure mechanism 50is preferably applied “wet” to water balloon 10 via a brush or spraytechnique and then sets or “dries” until activation during later use.However, in accordance with various alternate embodiments of the presentinvention, liquid-activated adhesive closure mechanism 50 may be appliedto the balloon through any of those methods and processes known or notyet known to the prior art.

Thus, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention and now in reference to FIG. 2, water balloon 10 is suitablyclosed and sealed by liquid-activated closure mechanism 50. In use, auser can fill water balloon 10 by stretching orifice 40 about a fillingnozzle. As water enters through orifice 40 and travels down neck 30 tovolume 20 it comes in contact with liquid-activated closure mechanism50. In so doing, closure mechanism 50 is activated with no added effortby the user. Once volume 20 is of sufficient size, water insertion isstopped, preferably with water balloon 10 still attached to the fillingnozzle. Water balloon 10 may then be sealed by simply grasping neck 30and compressing the sides of neck 30 to each other and onto activatedclosure mechanism 50. Sealed water balloon 10 may then be detached fromthe filling nozzle. However, many alternate methods of use may as wellbe used to seal water balloon 10 via closure mechanism 50. For example,a user may also detach water balloon 10 from the filling nozzle beforesealing orifice 40. Furthermore, a variety of motions may be used tocollapse balloon neck 30 upon closure mechanism 50. For example,twisting, grinding, flattening and like motions may similarly be used tocompress neck 30.

Now with reference to FIG. 3, a preferred embodiment of the invention isshown and various additional optional aspects are described below. Theseembodiments incorporate various supplementary features intended tooptimize the overall use of the invention for the user. However, asabove, various alternate embodiments of the present invention may omitsome or all of these features, utilize another combination of thesefeatures, or utilize these and additional features not here described.

In accordance with one aspect of a preferred embodiment of theinvention, neck 30 comprises a bump 31. Bump 31 comprises a greaterdiameter than the rest of neck 30 and is also preferably composed of athicker section of material. Bump 31 is further preferably configured tobe suitably used with various configurations of slit water balloonlaunchers. Additionally, neck 30 may further comprise a texture 32 tohelp a user in gripping neck 30 during the sealing process or duringtransport. Likewise, all of water balloon 10 may comprise texture 32 tohelp a user in gripping water balloon 10 during a throwing motion.Furthermore, neck 30 may be accented by a differentiating color tohighlight the area with underlying closure mechanism 50. Likewise,entire neck 30 of water balloon 10 may have a differentiating color,letting the user know an integrated closure mechanism 50 lies beneath.In addition, closure mechanism 50 may have a temporary cover to ensureactivation does not occur before desirable.

Thus, while the principles of the invention have been described inillustrative embodiments, many combinations and modifications of theabove-described structures, arrangements, proportions, the elements,materials, and components, used in the practice of the invention inaddition to those not specifically described may be varied andparticularly adapted for a specific environment and operatingrequirement without departing from those principles.

1. A toy water balloon, wherein said balloon comprises an orifice, aneck, a volume, and a liquid-activated closure mechanism proximate saidneck.
 2. The toy water balloon of claim 1, wherein said closuremechanism is activated by filling said volume with liquid.
 3. The toywater balloon of claim 1, wherein said closure mechanism comprises aliquid-activated adhesive.
 4. The toy water balloon of claim 1, whereinsaid closure mechanism comprises a liquid-revealed adhesive.
 5. The toywater balloon of claim l, wherein said closure mechanism comprises aliquid-revealed latex surface.
 6. The toy water balloon of claim 1,wherein when said closure mechanism is activated and when said neck ismanipulated said closure mechanism seals said orifice.
 7. The toy waterballoon of claim 6, wherein said neck is manipulated by collapsing saidneck upon itself.
 8. The toy water balloon of claim 6, wherein said neckis manipulated by twisting said neck.
 9. The toy water balloon of claim1, wherein said closure mechanism is inset from said orifice.
 10. Thetoy water balloon of claim 1, wherein said closure mechanism isproximate an inner surface of said neck.
 11. The toy water balloon ofclaim 1, wherein said closure mechanism is proximate an innercircumference of said neck.
 12. The toy water balloon of claim 1,wherein said closure mechanism comprises patterns.
 13. The toy waterballoon of claim 1, wherein said neck comprises a bump for reception bya slit water balloon launcher.
 14. The toy water balloon of claim 1,wherein said neck comprises a texture for improved grip during sealing.15. The toy water balloon of claim 1, wherein said water balloon volumecomprises a texture for improved grip during throwing.
 16. The toy waterballoon of claim 1, where said neck proximate said closure mechanismcomprises a differentiating color.
 17. A toy water balloon, wherein saidballoon comprises an orifice, a neck, a volume, and a liquid-activatedclosure mechanism proximate said neck, and wherein when said neck ismanipulated, said closure mechanism seals said neck.
 18. The toy waterballoon of claim 17, wherein said closure mechanism is activated byfilling said volume with liquid.
 19. The toy water balloon of claim 17,wherein said closure mechanism is inset from said orifice.
 20. The toywater balloon of claim 17, wherein said closure mechanism is proximatean inner surface of said neck of said water balloon.